When the three different squads for India's tour of Australia was announced just before the start of the knock-out games of the Indian Premier League 2020 in the United Arab Emirates, there was plenty of talk about Rishabh Pant being picked only for the Test matches alongside the experienced Wriddhiman Saha.
Pant's place in the overs-limit contests behind the stumps was taken by KL Rahul who was in a fairly decent form with the bat and was a shoo-in for the playing eleven in both formats Down Under.
All the chatter about Rohit Sharma's fitness issues and thereby being overlooked for the vice-captain spot occupied centre-stage, leaving Pant more or less to his own ways.
And that seems to have worked wonders for the Delhi player as his tally of more than five hundred runs in Test matches alone against the likes of Australia and England shows.
Moreover, his work behind the sticks has also shown a fair degree of improvement.
Perhaps, as the good old saying goes, 70 per cent of cricket is played between the ears!
The time away from the spotlight seems to given Pant the time and space to himself. Instead of brooding at the missed opportunities, the player worked hard, not just on his glove-work but also on how to curb his penchant for big-hitting.
That done, Pant was back in international action at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Test against Australia and has never looked back since. His absolutely vital contributions for Team India at Sydney (draw) and Brisbane (win) left little doubt as to where his priorities lay.
Playing for the team has become his hallmark, something that had been found missing time and again as his performances behind the stumps and in front of them left most tearing their hair in frustration. It appeared to be another talent being sacrificed at the altar of impulse.
But it all now seems to be a thing of the past Pant has begun to not only shoulder responsibility but his confidence has rubbed off on others as well.
Not the best news for the veteran Saha or even may be young hopefuls like Ishan Kishan while KL Rahul and Sanju Samson would certainly be looking over their shoulders. But then life is all about grabbing your chances with both hands. .
Pant seems to have done just that and does not look like letting it go any time soon!
